Written Answers Friday 16 June 2006

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any instances where two separate discount cards for the discount air fares scheme have been issued to individuals and, if so, how this situation could have arisen.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is aware that, in a limited number of cases, two separate discount cards have been sent to the same individual. This can happen when individual applicants have submitted more than one application form and when the information contained on the form differs. For example first and middle names can be transposed; only supplying initials in one case; incorrect or transposed date of birth and the use of shortened or alternative versions of first or middle names. The Executive is working hard to prevent this wherever possible.

Asylum Seekers

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in procedures for dealing with the cases of victims of trafficking in Scotland who claim asylum.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no role in such procedures which are reserved matters.

Bridges

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23225 by Tavish Scott on 13 March 2006 stating that there was no statutory requirement in terms of Schedule 2 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to advise the public of the commencement of the toll period, why Section 27(3) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 indicates that Schedule 2 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 applies to "a toll order with regard to its validity and date of operation".

Tavish Scott: The Invergarry - Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 (SI 1992 No. 1501) was made on 23 June 1992 and a notice to this effect was published by the then Secretary of State on 26 June 1992, as required by paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Bridges

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Fife Council about abolishing and dismantling the five sets of traffic lights in the centre of Kincardine-on-Forth leading to the approach road to Kincardine Bridge, particularly in light of the changed roadway system envisaged by the building of the proposed second bridge.

Tavish Scott: None.

  Traffic signals will be required to ensure safe pedestrian crossing and safe exit from the centre of Kincardine during the period after the new crossing is completed when the existing Kincardine Bridge is closed for major refurbishment. Thereafter their need will be reviewed and discussed with the council.

Broadcasting

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government in relation to the absence of a digital television signal in areas such as Ballater in Aberdeenshire.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with DCMS in relation to a wide range of matters including broadcasting.

  Ofcom, the Office of Communications, has statutory duties to ensure the optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum and to ensure that a wide range of electronic communications services including television and radio are available throughout the UK. Further information about Ofcom and its work is available at www.ofcom.org.uk.

Broadcasting

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about when areas which do not receive a digital television signal in Scotland will do so.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible.

  Ofcom, the Office of Communications, published in April 2006 a research report The Communications Market: Nations and Regions: Scotland which shows that digital terrestrial television availability is 82% in Scotland, the highest of any of the nations in the UK. It also includes information about the availability of digital television in Scotland via digital satellite (98% availability) and digital cable (37% availability). The report is available at www.ofcom.org.uk.

  Some households cannot receive digital terrestrial television at the moment and will not be able to do so until digital switchover is complete in their ITV region, due in Borders region in 2008 and in Grampian and Scottish regions in 2010. Further information about digital switchover is available at www.digitaluk.co.uk, including a postcode checking facility for any viewer to check whether digital television is available to them and on which platforms.

Broadcasting

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the power to give grant support to those who require to update equipment in order to receive digital television signals after the switch-off of the analogue signal and, if so, whether it will do so.

Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible. The UK Government has announced that a digital switchover assistance scheme will be available for persons aged 75 and over and persons with a significant disability. Further information about this scheme is available at:

  www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/sscheme/sscheme_home.html.

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding per head of population has been provided for the dental health service in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: Each NHS board receives all the funds it needs to meet the cost of providing NHS dental treatment to its residents. This funding is mainly reimbursement for expenditure by general dental practitioners who treat patients under the NHS.

  The vast majority of expenditure on General Dental Services is therefore demand-led, reflecting the cost of activity by general dental practitioners in each NHS board area as well as minor discretionary expenditure by health boards. The total amount per head of population is shown in the following table.

  

 
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004–05


£ Per Head
£ Per Head
£ Per Head
£ Per Head
£ Per Head
£ Per Head


 Argyll and Clyde
 33.38
 37.17
 36.91
 40.10
 42.33
 45.41


 Ayrshire and Arran
 31.91
 33.08
 35.38
 37.05
 39.22
 42.98


 Borders
 31.90
 29.91
 32.70
 35.72
 33.26
 35.05


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26.59
 25.03
 25.94
 26.99
 27.62
 28.08


 Fife
 29.69
 30.80
 31.95
 34.31
 35.39
 37.96


 Forth Valley
 31.77
 33.60
 35.00
 39.85
 39.06
 42.07


 Grampian
 29.32
 29.27
 31.05
 31.74
 29.90
 29.80


 Greater Glasgow
 39.44
 38.59
 42.25
 46.03
 47.19
 53.35


 Highland
 27.61
 30.11
 31.06
 31.55
 29.40
 32.35


 Lanarkshire
 31.84
 33.16
 34.53
 36.77
 38.80
 42.94


 Lothian
 34.18
 35.48
 37.19
 40.24
 42.51
 45.48


 Orkney
 23.34
 25.51
 28.04
 31.60
 48.52
 63.23


 Shetland
 24.39
 23.89
 25.77
 35.23
 38.64
 48.18


 Tayside
 35.20
 36.95
 38.62
 40.64
 42.49
 44.46


 Western Isles
 29.78
 32.08
 34.18
 31.45
 40.61
 46.42

Drug Misuse

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 16 have had a known illegal drug problem, broken down by (a) age range and (b) NHS board area, in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: Information on the number of young people who have a drug problem by age and NHS board area is not held centrally. Relevant information has been drawn from a number of sources.

  The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) collects information from people at the point of their coming into contact with drug treatment services. Table 1 shows the number of new clients aged less than 16 years, who accessed drug treatment and rehabilitation services in the years 1999-2000 to 2004-05, by NHS board area.

  The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey provides information about monitoring substance use among young people in Scotland. Table two shows data from the 2002 survey showing the percentage of 13 and 15 year olds who said they had used an illegal drug at least once in the previous month. Cannabis was the most commonly reported drug.

  Table 3 shows the number of children under 16, discharged from general acute Scottish hospitals with a drugs misuse diagnosis, from 1999-2000 to 2004-05, by NHS board area.

  Information on discharges from psychiatric hospitals for children under 16 with drugs misuse-related diagnosis shows that: in 1999-2000 there were two children; in 2000-01 there were six children, and in 2001-02 there was one child.

  Table 1: New1 Individual Patients/Clients Aged Less than 16 Years Old, Reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database2,3 by Health Board Area: 1999-2000 to 2004-05

  

 Year
 Ages


 Health Board
 8
 9
 10
 11
 12
 13
 14
 15
 All Ages


 1999-2000
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 11
 26
 1,175


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 79


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 4
 15
 1,200


 Fife
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 3
 2
 14
 420


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 7
 22
 3,247


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 115


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 534


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 3
 5
 710


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 9
 14
 1,995


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 541


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 3
 259


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 13


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 194


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 13


 Scotland
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 14
 37
 103
 10,426


 2000-01
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4
 15
 1,229


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 106


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 13
 16
 1,336


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 1
 11
 12
 599


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 1
 0
 3
 9
 20
 22
 3,291


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 123


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 3
 519


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 7
 633


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4
 2
 9
 1,953


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 2
 6
 397


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 241


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 203


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 14


 Scotland
 0
 0
 1
 2
 5
 19
 57
 91
 10,581


 2001-02
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 9
 19
 1,878


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 118


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 7
 7
 23
 1,223


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 19
 29
 617


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 4
 8
 3,397


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 176


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 1
 3
 565


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 4
 698


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 6


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4
 8
 12
 18
 2,150


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 7
 6
 13
 346


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 7
 7
 294


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 254


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 32


 Scotland
 0
 0
 0
 1
 8
 33
 67
 125
 11,685


 2002-03
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 6
 11
 1,654


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 82


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 7
 9
 1,217


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 7
 12
 20
 822


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 3
 5
 3,284


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 1
 2
 190


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 4
 5
 420


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 5
 6
 13
 995


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3


 Lothian
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 10
 19
 30
 2,123


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 6
 9
 411


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 3
 4
 13
 312


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 13


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 4
 6
 258


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 20


 Scotland
 0
 1
 0
 2
 7
 39
 73
 123
 11,718


 2003-04
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 7
 1,302


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 8
 7
 142


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 7
 19
 1,254


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 15
 20
 32
 996


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 5
 25
 27
 3,520


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 11
 5
 322


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 5
 8
 20
 577


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 3
 11
 13
 1,186


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 16


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 6
 8
 29
 30
 2,665


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 10
 541


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 5
 18
 20
 398


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 2
 2
 203


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 28


 Scotland
 0
 0
 1
 3
 19
 51
 145
 192
 13,086


 2004-05
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 0
 1,287


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 7
 11
 10
 185


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 8
 18
 35
 1,390


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 15
 27
 43
 1,025


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 6
 7
 13
 3,165


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 10
 23
 550


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 1
 2
 5
 4
 15
 25
 1,589


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 4
 2
 11
 1,010


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 11


 Lothian
 0
 1
 0
 0
 4
 4
 23
 21
 3,068


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 11
 542


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4
 4
 5
 372


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 20


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1
 4
 6
 7
 192


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 17



  Ref: IR2006-01651 SS.

  Source: Scottish Drug Misuse Database June 2006.

  Table 2: Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) 2002, Percentage of 13 and 15 Year Olds who said they had used Drugs in the Last Year

  

 Health Board
13 Year Olds(%)
15 Year Olds(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 15
 36


 Ayrshire and Arran
 12
 34


 Borders
 12
 32


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11
 36


 Fife
 9
 33


 Forth Valley
 16
 34


 Grampian
 8
 33


 Greater Glasgow
 11
 31


 Highland
 13
 36


 Lanarkshire
 13
 35


 Lothian
 12
 34


 Orkney
 9
 30


 Shetland
 6
 28


 Tayside
 10
 31


 Scotland
 11
 33



  Base = All Pupils.

  Source: Salsus 2002.

  Date: 5 June 2006.

  Ref: 200601651.

  Table 3: Scottish general acute hospital1,2 discharge records: number of people3,4,5 aged less than 16 with an explicit diagnosis of drug misuse6,7; 1999-2000 – 2004-05,

  

Year Ages (in Years) Health Board
 5 and Under
 6-8
 9
 10
 11
 12
 13
 14
 15
 All Ages


 1999-2000
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 268


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 7
 249


 Borders
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1
 21


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 50


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 152


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 87


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 1
 3
 309


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 1
 2
 1,064


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 33


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 1
 165


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 362


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 7


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 100


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4


 Scotland
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 3
 4
 11
 23
 2,855


 2000-01
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 6
 247


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 4
 314


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 36


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 58


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 160


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 90


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 327


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 2
 2
 1,238


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 29


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 6
 2
 229


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 320


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 108


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Scotland
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 6
 15
 24
 3,135


 2001-02
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 4
 279


 Ayrshire and Arran
 1
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 6
 9
 429


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 31


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 83


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 2
 0
 161


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 108


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 326


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 1
 0
 5
 5
 1,194


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 34


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0
 216


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 6
 424


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 83


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5


 Scotland
 1
 1
 0
 2
 3
 2
 9
 24
 28
 3,363


 2002-03
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 1
 355


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 5
 422


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0
 48


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 82


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 195


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 111


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 5
 313


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 5
 3
 3
 1,208


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 46


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 195


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1
 1
 1
 2
 403


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 5


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 1
 131


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 6


 Scotland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 4
 10
 13
 24
 3,499


 2003-04
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 340


 Ayrshire and Arran
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 2
 1
 3
 429


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 36


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 73


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 4
 212


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 103


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 351


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2
 1,051


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 48


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 2
 190


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 4
 506


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2
 115


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 9


 Scotland
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 9
 10
 24
 3,461


 2004-05P
 


 Argyll and Clyde
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 4
 310


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 8
 471


 Borders
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 36


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 65


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 2
 3
 266


 Forth Valley
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 106


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 378


 Greater Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 7
 1,004


 Highland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 57


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3
 2
 165


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 2
 2
 3
 565


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3


 Shetland Islands
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 11


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 108


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 10


 Scotland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3
 8
 9
 31
 3,544



  PProvisional.

  Source: SMR01 (valid records only).

  Date: 5 June 2006.

  Ref: 200601651.

  Notes:

  1. New individual: any person who is attending for (a) the first time ever or (b) it has been at least six months since the last attendance.

  2. All figures in this table exclude penal establishment inmates and returns from needle exchanges

  3. Individuals are included once within each health board area. Therefore the local area data should not be aggregated to produce a Scotland total.

  4. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals, and includes Scottish residents only.

  5. Excludes transfer cases.

  6. Information is on individual patients, within a health board, within a year. The same patient will be counted separately for each health board, so the sum of health board numbers may not equal the Scotland total. Similarly, if one patient is admitted in two different years, they will be counted separately in each year.

  7. Age at admission.

  8. Figures in the table relate only to those individuals who are treated as in-patients in an acute hospital.

  9. Discharges where drugs misuse is recorded as either primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital. Diagnostic information is defined by using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10): F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F18, F19.

  10. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of drugs misuse may vary from hospital to hospital. Where drugs misuse is suspected but unconfirmed it may not be recorded by the hospital.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people aged (a) 5 and under, (b) 6 to 8, (c) 9, (d) 10, (e) 11, (f) 12, (g) 13, (h) 14, (i) 15 and (j) 16 are undergoing rehabilitation as a result of (i) drug or (ii) alcohol abuse, broken down by local authority area.

Hugh Henry: Information on the number of young people undergoing rehabilitation as a result of alcohol misuse is not held centrally.

  Information on young people undergoing rehabilitation as a result of drug misuse has been drawn from the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) which collects information about people at the point of their coming into contact with drug treatment services. Table 1 shows the number of new clients aged less than 16 years, who accessed drug treatment and rehabilitation services in the year 2004-05, by age, and local authority area. There were no clients under the age of 8 years.

  Table 1: New Individual Patients/Clients Aged 16 Years and Under, Reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database by Local Authority area, 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005

  

 Council Area of Residence
 Age (in Years)


 8
 9
 10
 11
 12
 13
 14
 15
 16
 Total


 Aberdeen City
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1
 3


 Aberdeenshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 4
 2
 9
 4
 20


 Angus
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4
 3
 7


 Argyll and Bute
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3
 -
 2
 5


 East Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1


 North Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -
 3
 5


 South Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Borders
 -
 -
 -
 1
 2
 7
 11
 10
 5
 36


 Clackmannanshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1
 4
 6
 7
 2
 22


 Dunbartonshire East
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2


 Dunbartonshire West
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 6
 5
 9
 4
 24


 Dundee City
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1
 7
 6
 16


 City of Edinburgh
 -
 1
 -
 -
 2
 1
 7
 6
 6
 23


 Falkirk
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3
 2
 3
 7
 15


 Fife
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3
 15
 27
 43
 12
 100


 City of Glasgow
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 4
 6
 9
 9
 28


 Highland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3
 10
 23
 11
 47


 Inverclyde
 -
 -
 1
 -
 1
 2
 6
 8
 3
 21


 North Lanarkshire
 -
 -
 1
 2
 4
 3
 14
 22
 13
 59


 South Lanarkshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1
 2
 6
 8
 18


 East Lothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2


 West Lothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1
 13
 14
 10
 40


 Midlothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -
 1
 1
 4


 Moray
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Orkney Islands
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Perth and Kinross
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Renfrewshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 2
 4
 20
 10
 37


 East Renfrewshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1


 Shetland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Stirling
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 2
 2
 3
 8


 Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2


 Scotland
 1
 2
 2
 3
 18
 62
 126
 204
 130
 548



  Note: In some cases, the Scotland total is marginally lower than the aggregated local figures because some individuals have presented to services in more than one council area.

Emergency Services

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the proposed privatisation of air search and rescue services in Scotland.

Tavish Scott: Control and tasking of the air search and rescue service is a reserved matter and will remain with the UK Government. The Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence announced on 9 May that the joint Search and Rescue Helicopter project would go forward to a competition under the Private Finance Initiative. The Scottish Executive has responsibility for managing the consequences arising from civil emergencies and works closely with the UK Government and a variety of organisations in ensuring emergency preparedness, and will continue to discuss with the UK Government these and other issues.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures were taken to ensure that potential ferry operators’ costs for competing in the tender process for the Northern Isles ferry services contract were as low as possible.

Tavish Scott: The Executive provided bidders with a clear and thorough Invitation to Tender and a wide range of information relevant to the contract. In addition, the Executive responded to specific requests for additional information, with this information circulated to all bidders. This was intended to allow bidders to scope the contract requirements accurately and to avoid the need for them to undertake significant data gathering. Much of the information was provided in electronic format, allowing bidders to manipulate or analyse it relatively simply. In addition, the Executive has recently introduced electronic tendering arrangements for procurement exercises such as this and tenderers for the Northern Isles ferry contract had the option of submitting their bid and other associated information using this mechanism. These arrangements should have reduced tenderers’ staff costs, given the less intensive nature of the arrangements, and their printing and postage costs. The Executive’s improvements to the quality and accessibility of information available for tenderers, anticipated the later findings of the Auditor General in his Report on the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract (published on 22 December 2005). The Auditor General acknowledged the steps which the Department had taken to provide more detailed information in the tendering exercise for bids submitted on 1 December 2005 (Auditor General’s Report paras 22, 27 and 3.22-23). Ministers also made it clear at that point that they would implement any recommendations by the Auditor General that had implications for funding of subsidy in future tender contracts.

Ferry Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use to ascertain whether the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service can be operated without a subsidy.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has been working closely with Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council to develop the tendering proposals and a service specification for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. Operators will have to demonstrate convincingly that they can meet the key service requirements set out in the specification without subsidy before they can be considered for the contract. If no suitable operator can be found who can satisfy these criteria then we will bring forward proposals for a subsidised service.

Film Industry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that the Scottish Screen Locations Service, currently operated by Scottish Screen, will be transferred to CreativeScotland or to another agency.

Patricia Ferguson: As I set out in Scotland’s Culture , published in January this year, it is the policy of the Scottish Executive that the new cultural development agency Creative Scotland should take over the majority of the current functions of Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council. We have no plans to transfer to another agency responsibility for Scottish Screen’s work to increase the volume of mobile screen activity attracted to Scotland.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Housing Association Grant can be paid to a stock transfer housing association to meet any shortfall in its business plan caused by costs resulting from the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Johann Lamont: Housing Association Grant presently funds new development and some major repairs. Communities Scotland will work with landlords that find themselves in financial and other difficulties in order to ensure the Standard is delivered to tenants.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from stock transfer housing associations with regard to the possible impact on rents of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Johann Lamont: Representations have been received by Communities Scotland primarily through the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, with whom discussions are continuing.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an impact assessment has been carried out to determine the effect of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard on contracts with stock transfer housing associations in relation to agreed contractual improvements and rent capping.

Johann Lamont: The Scottish Housing Quality Standard was set following a formal public consultation period in 2003 to ensure landlords across the social housing sector had an opportunity to give their views on its anticipated impact. This covered the full range of social landlords, including registered social landlords with houses from Scottish Homes.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering refunding to Scottish Homes stock transfer housing associations the difference between the price actually paid and that which would have been paid had the Scottish Housing Quality Standard been built into the discounted cash flow model which determined the original price.

Johann Lamont: It is not the Executive’s policy to amend the terms of transfer contracts once they have been agreed between the relevant parties.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can determine the difference between actual Scottish Homes stock transfer valuations and revised valuations which include the higher costs of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Johann Lamont: The Executive is not responsible for the revaluation of transferred stock. Landlords are responsible for updating their stock to meet modern requirements, revising their business plans and maintaining the value of their property portfolio.

Housing

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to allowing stock transfer housing associations to waive payments to the Executive in respect of excess right-to-buy proceeds.

Johann Lamont: Landlords can keep all receipts from right-to-buy sales of former Scottish Homes stock, after the tenth anniversary of the transfer.

  Local authority transfers to community ownership require that all right-to-buy receipts should return to the Executive.

  The differences between the two approaches reflect the treatment of "right-to-buy" properties within the valuation applied to each type of transfer.

Justice

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the evaluation of the pilot Arrest Referral schemes will be completed.

Hugh Henry: The evaluation of the Arrest Referral pilot schemes is currently being finalised with publication planned for July 2006.

Justice

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the future funding of Arrest Referral schemes.

Hugh Henry: A decision on the future of the Arrest Referral schemes will be made once I have had a chance to consider the independent evaluation.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for an initial paediatric cardiology assessment in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board and hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on waiting times for a first out-patient appointment is collected at specialty level only. Paediatric Cardiology may be recorded under the specialities of Cardiology, Paediatrics or General Medicine. It is not possible from the new out-patient appointments dataset to explicitly identify the waits for Paediatric Cardiology.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children waited for an initial paediatric cardiology assessment in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board and hospital.

Mr Andy Kerr: Data on the number of patients waiting for a first out-patient appointment has only been collected since 30 September 2004. This information is collected at specialty level only. Paediatric Cardiology may be recorded under the specialities of Cardiology, Paediatrics or General Medicine. It is not possible from the out-patient waiting list dataset to explicitly identify the number of patients waiting for paediatric cardiology.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many missed hospital appointments there were in each NHS board in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information is collected centrally only on numbers of patients who did not attend their first out-patient appointment with a consultant.

  The number of patients who did not attend their first out-patient appointment at a consultant-led clinic, following referral by a general medical or dental practitioner, by NHS board area of residence, in each of the last 10 years, is given in the following table.

  NHSScotland: Number of Patients that did not Attend Their First Out-Patient Appointment at a Consultant-Led Clinic, by NHS Board of Residence. Years Ended 31 March 1997-2006P

  

 NHS Board
Year Ended
31 March 1997
Year Ended
31 March 1998
Year Ended
31 March 1999
Year Ended
31 March 2000
Year Ended
31 March 2001


 Argyll and Clyde
 13,002
 13,895
 13,830
 14,025
 13,935


 Ayrshire and Arran
 9,408
 10,114
 9,986
 10,786
 10,711


 Borders
 1,639
 1,550
 1,492
 1,734
 1,666


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,079
 2,178
 2,191
 2,222
 2,343


 Fife
 8,959
 9,522
 9,679
 9,817
 9,970


 Forth Valley
 6,572
 6,635
 7,178
 6,771
 6,930


 Grampian
 8,826
 8,129
 8,510
 9,264
 9,900


 Greater Glasgow
 43,849
 44,260
 45,109
 45,866
 42,515


 Highland
 3,336
 3,516
 3,570
 3,966
 3,859


 Lanarkshire
 17,511
 19,544
 19,155
 20,108
 19,276


 Lothian
 20,084
 20,773
 21,975
 22,948
 23,001


 Orkney Islands
 77
 88
 110
 129
 148


 Shetland Islands
 238
 214
 275
 210
 243


 Tayside
 10,949
 12,465
 13,025
 13,970
 13,739


 Western Isles
 424
 465
 472
 497
 558


 NHSScotland
 146,953
 153,348
 156,557
 162,313
 158,794



  

 NHS Board
Year Ended
31 March 2002
Year Ended
31 March 2003
Year Ended
31 March 2004
Year Ended
31 March 2005
Year Ended
31 March 2006P


 Argyll and Clyde
 14,458
 14,885
 15,017
 13,486
 12,224


 Ayrshire and Arran
 11,853
 12,297
 12,018
 11,885
 10,689


 Borders
 1,705
 1,895
 2,046
 1,989
 1,693


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,410
 2,362
 2,332
 2,231
 1,807


 Fife
 10,069
 9,894
 10,500
 10,690
 9,706


 Forth Valley
 7,301
 6,811
 7,287
 7,004
 3,973


 Grampian
 10,335
 9,858
 9,443
 8,775
 8,618


 Greater Glasgow
 47,839
 49,275
 45,862
 39,731
 38,795


 Highland
 3,756
 3,877
 4,177
 3,898
 4,154


 Lanarkshire
 19,770
 21,777
 19,816
 17,673
 15,254


 Lothian
 22,513
 21,993
 21,674
 21,179
 19,654


 Orkney Islands
 171
 180
 175
 153
 188


 Shetland Islands
 197
 275
 339
 393
 359


 Tayside
 13,974
 13,215
 12,816
 13,295
 8,791


 Western Isles
 573
 674
 564
 717
 695


 NHSScotland
 166,924
 169,268
 164,066
 153,099
 136,600



  PProvisional.

  Source: ISD Scotland SMR00 – All specialities excluding accident and emergency and genito-urinary medicine.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses which are eligible to claim small business rates relief do not pay business rates because their premises are empty.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25906 by Mr Tom McCabe on 25 May 2006, whether it plans to carry out an updated evaluation of the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme, given that the report of the evaluation carried out in 2004 indicated that the full effect of the scheme would not be felt for another year or two.

Mr Tom McCabe: We have no plans for an updated evaluation, we will of course continue routinely to review the operation of the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme.

Public Transport

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Strathclyde Partnership for Transport or its predecessor organisation has made any representations about expansion of the Glasgow subway network.

Tavish Scott: Neither Strathclyde Partnership for Transport nor Strathclyde Passenger Transport have made formal representations about expansion of the Glasgow Subway. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is keeping the Executive informed about the scoping study it is undertaking.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the factors which led to the reported increase in cost of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line could recur in the construction of the Waverley line and, if so, what these factors are and what the financial impact might be.

Tavish Scott: The increases in cost estimate associated with Airdrie to Bathgate are a result of scheme refinement and clarification issues in the early stages of scheme development. The scope of the Borders railway is more defined and therefore further cost increases from such refinement processes are not anticipated, apart from those which may come about from amendments to the bill by the bill committee.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19286 by Tavish Scott on 28 September 2005, what stage the lessons learned report has reached and when it will be published.

Tavish Scott: The report is in draft. Its publication will follow as soon as the contents of the draft report have been discussed with Transport Scotland.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19287 by Tavish Scott on 28 September 2005, what emerging conclusions from the lessons learned report have been communicated to either the promoters of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill or to the Parliament and on what dates.

Tavish Scott: All relevant emerging conclusions from the draft lessons learnt report have been discussed with the promoters of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill during the development of the project over the past six months.

Rail Network

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the section of the former rail line from Dumfries to Stranraer which lies between Dumfries and Maxwelltown still legally exists and, if so, whether current track recovery work will jeopardise that legal existence

Tavish Scott: The former line between Nith viaduct and Maxwelltown is owned by British Railways Board (Residuary) Ltd and is currently being conveyed to Railway Paths Limited for use as part of the National Cycle Network.

  This scheme will not be developed in such a way as to materially prejudice the reopening of the line to rail services.

  The recent removal of the track, therefore, has no bearing on the legal status of the land.

Roads

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored traffic flow on the A80 at the upgraded Auchenkilns intersection to assess any improvement since the roundabout was replaced by a grade-separated junction and, in particular, whether issues have arisen as a result of tailbacks on the M73 at its junction with the A80.

Tavish Scott: Traffic patterns on the A80 have been monitored since completion of the Auchenkilns Improvement scheme. The survey data indicates significant travel time savings and that these savings are attracting trips off the secondary road network. The scheme is therefore already providing considerable benefits to both strategic and local traffic and these are not affected by the remaining endemic capacity problems at the M73 junction.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Information Commissioner

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations Scottish ministers have received from the Scottish Information Commissioner in respect of additional resources.

Ms Margaret Curran: Scottish ministers have received no representations from the Scottish Information Commissioner in respect of additional resources. The statutory responsibility for funding the Commissioner rests with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

Scottish Water

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has provided it with a satisfactory delivery plan for 2006-10.

Rhona Brankin: Scottish Water submitted a new delivery plan to the Executive on 26 May. The plan set out to the satisfaction of the Executive how Scottish Water will meet the objectives set by the Executive for 2006-10, for improved standards for drinking water quality and environment protection and enough strategic capacity to support new development across the country, within the financial limits set by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. The Water Industry Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland each indicated that they were content with the plan for their respective interests. In these circumstances, the Executive has informed Scottish Water that it has approved the plan and that Scottish Water should now direct all of its energies on implementing the plan.

  Copies of the Scottish Water Delivery Plan are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39877).

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal since its inception; what its running costs are, and how often it has sat.

Robert Brown: The funding allocated to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal since its inception to 31 March 2006 totals £626,543. This figure includes running costs of £274,862.

  The Additional Support Needs Tribunal has sat on two occasions to date.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many referrals have been made to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal since its inception, broken down by month.

Robert Brown: Six referrals have been made to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal since its inception as follows:

  one in December 2005

  two in January 2006

  two in May 2006

  two in June 2006.

  In addition, tribunal staff have had a significant programme of work to complete in establishing the tribunals. This includes scoping and designing a new electronic case management system; producing guidance for parents, local authorities and members/conveners; establishing a telephone helpline and website; designing and completing training events for tribunal members/conveners, and undertaking outreach visits as well as user group meetings. Staff are also involved in short term placements to fully utilise staff capacity, for example, in helping to establish the new Scottish Charity Appeals Panel.

  The staffing position is being kept under close scrutiny and will be reviewed in the autumn as we gain a fuller picture of potential referral activity.

Sport

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how Renfrewshire Council’s proposed sale of the Seedhill Playing Fields in Paisley meets the aims of Sport 21 2003-2007: The National Strategy for Sport - Shaping Scotland's Future and how a reduction in local sports facilities and green spaces helps to meet the objective of "a country where sport is more widely available to all".

Patricia Ferguson: Local authorities are key partners in ensuring that the objectives of Sport 21 are delivered. Developments at Seedhill playing fields are entirely a matter for Renfrewshire Council and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of this case as ultimately any subsequent planning application may come before ministers for determination.